Five years after

TACLOBAN CITY- Imelda Tacalan, 48, feels nothing but heavy heart every time November 8 approaches.
Like her fellow survivors of super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ in Balangiga, Eastern Samar, Tacalan has not yet been relocated to a government-led permanent housing site in their area after it was found out that their units were allegedly “substandard.”
She said that of the 460 housing units intended for Yolanda survivors of their town, only 230 were constructed yet but were declared to be of not good quality.
“I envy those Yolanda survivors whose relocation sites are managed by non-government organizations. They have better units compared to us,” Tacalan said in an interview.
This sentiment was also shared by Lita Bagunas of the Uswag Este-Katarungan.
She said that the houses constructed by the National Housing Authority have weaker construction materials used with the walls could easily be shaken.
Bagunas added that the housing projects that were started under President Rodrigo Duterte continue to be of substandard quality comparable to the ones constructed under the then administration of Benigno Aquino III.
“Akala namin change is coming. Hindi rin pala,” she said whose group is part of the coalition of storm victims known as Community of Yolanda Survivors and Partners (CYSP).
The group said that housing projects in Lawaan and Balangiga continue to face complaints due to their “poor quality.”
According to Joli Torella of Urban Poor Associates, many housing areas in Yolanda-hit areas generally lacked basic social services.
The added cost of transportation and lack of access to these social services made life more difficult in the relocation sites, he said.
“Families transferred at St.Francis Village find it difficult to live there because aside from lacking basic services, there’s flooding when it rains,”Vincent Basiano, a resident of said relocation site located in Barangay Suhi, Tacloban City, said.
CYSP alleged that the relocation of 3,000 families was fast-tracked even as the relocation sites were still lacking basic social services like water, electricity, schools, and difficult access to public transport.
(RONALD O. REYES)

CARIGARA, Leyte-The Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH)- Leyte Second District Engineering Office directed the contractors to hasten the implementation of their projects for this year.
To address the issue, district engineer (DE) Carlos Veloso and officer-in-charge- assistant district engineer (OIC-ADE) Daniel Estigoy met the contractors to speed up resolving negative slippages.
According to Estigoy, the office is serious in adhering Department Order No. 193, series of 2016, “Administrative Action on Contracts with Negative Slippage in Accordance with the Revised IRR of Republic Act 9184,” to terminate a contract if it has already recorded a 15 percent slippage rate.
It was revealed that the cause on the delay of the projects was due to obstructions such as electric posts and pipelines by some utility companies located within the road right of way.
Estigoy also disclosed that their office had already requested funding for the relocation of these electric posts so that there will be no more reason on the part of the contractor for the delay of project implementation next year.
Despite the inclement weather condition and other circumstances that have cause the delay of the projects, contractors must exhibit proper cooperation in solving these issues.
Estigoy recommended them to submit catch-up plan to work up and speed up projects delayed to be completed before the end of calendar year 2018.
He further reminded to find ways as much as possible to avoid negative slippage that may result to non-payment, cancellation of contract, or blacklisting.
The field office guarantees assistance to contractors in providing better and quality infrastructure projects.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

ORMOC CITY-The Department of Public Works and Highways Leyte 4th District Engineering Office clarifies issues regarding the Construction of By-pass/Diversion Road in Brgy. San Juan going to Brgy. Naungan in Ormoc City.
On behalf of District Engineer Lino Francisco C. Gonzalez, and the entire Leyte 4th DEO, assistant district engineer Irwin L. Antonio acknowledged the invitation of KAUGOP radio station for an interview regarding some clarifications from the citizens about the San Juan – Lao – Naungan By-pass/Diversion road.
During the radio interview, ADE Antonio stated that this is a multi-year project funded by the national government and is co-implemented by the DPWH Regional Office and Leyte Fourth DEO.
This 4.2 km network development road project, comprised of 6 lanes will considerably minimize traffic congestion and drastically shorten the travel time by 20 minutes towards the city of Ormoc.
Citizens were highly concerned about the floodings in the area affected by the diversion road, as well as the mangrove area that serves as a natural habitat for some migratory birds and aquatic animals.
As such, Department of Environment and Natural Resources/Community Environment and Natural Resources Office and various agencies were involved in the preparation of the program of works prior to its completion. Public consultation was also conducted with the residents of affected nearby barangays.
Flood mitigating measures were also incorporated in the network development plan, such as the installation of 32-36 culverts – 3m x 3m x 25m box culverts at the entire stretch as well as the construction of bridges at the existing Lao, San Juan and Pagsangaan bridges which under the water flows.(PR)